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Friday, 22 July 2016

Statement by His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, on increased attacks against Egypt’s Christian community

Coptic
Orthodox Church UK

Media
and Communications Office

Coptic
Orthodox Church (Europe)

Media
and Communications Office

Statement by His
Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the
United Kingdom, on increased attacks against Egypt’s Christian community

22 July 2016

Egypt is undoubtedly experiencing a formative stage of its contemporary history. Having emerged from uprisings
and changes in Government, dealing with resulting pressures on its economy and
infrastructure, and with the loss of foreign investment and tourism, it has become
more vulnerable to a disturbing wave of radicalism.

One of the manifestations of
this radicalisation is that despite a short period of apparent reprieve, it is
regrettable that the time has come yet again to speak of heightened, targeted
attacks against Coptic Christians in Egypt. Tensions against Egypt’s indigenous
Christian community have again escalated over the past few months, and will
spiral even further if not immediately addressed.

The exponential rise in
attacks against Christians and Christian property in recent months can largely
be attributed to three main catalysts: inflammatory false rumours and
accusations regarding alleged extra-marital relationships between Christians
and Muslims, incendiary rumours relating to the building of new churches, and a
growing trend towards the direct targeting of priests and their families. At
their most brutal, these recent attacks have culminated in the burning of
churches and places of worship, the stripping and public parading of 70-year-old
Souad Thabet, and the senseless murder of Father Raphael Moussa.

What must be considered very
clearly and with great concern however is that an attack on any individual
member of a society is an attack on that same society and what it stands for,
so our prayers are not only with those who have suffered these unspeakable and
horrid violations, but for the society that is undermined and made more
vulnerable with each and every one of these incidents. The system of law and
order in Egypt is not one for Christians, Muslims or any other individual group
of people, but it is for all Egyptians, and so when violated this violation is
against all.

While there are clear efforts
at the national level in Egypt to attempt to curb such acts of religiously-motivated
violence and lawlessness, what we have repeatedly seen at the local level is,
at best, carelessness and, at worst, criminal negligence in the reaction and
lack of reaction of local security service officials. This gives a clear and
direct message that certain crimes will go unchallenged and unchecked, especially
when perpetrators are not brought to justice. The resulting sense of impunity
not only means a lack of justice for crimes already perpetrated, but also gives
greater encouragement to those who will seek to do even more, and more
aggressively.

While there is a rejection of
these attacks on Christians by the vast majority of Egypt’s 85% Muslim population,
themselves often targeted by the same radical and intolerant elements, there is
a need for a robust system of law and order that appropriately responds to
crime, irrespective of who it is perpetrated by or against. If this does not
happen, the concern is that hopes for a more cohesive nation will disappear,
and that recent events will give way to a re-emerging religious divide.

In light of all this, it is of
course difficult to have a sense of hope or promise in the current situation,
but mine still remains rooted in the way Christians in Egypt and elsewhere have
faced persecution for millennia. They continue to draw strength from their
confidence and trust in an omnipotent God, and forgive through grace that only
He can provide. In this, those suffering directly from this persecution provide
a great example and inspiration for us not to be engulfed by anger or
resentment but in calling for justice, remain forgiving, no matter how hard,
and work towards a hopeful future, no matter how seemingly impossible.

The brutal and personal nature
of many of the attacks against our brothers and sisters in Egypt warrants our
prayers and support for them as they continue to endure heightened levels of
persecution while refusing to lose their admirable and resilient spirit, and
unyielding ability to forgive according to their Christian devotion and
commitment. We also pray for Egypt and
its leadership, hoping that hearts and minds will be led to greater inclusiveness,
justice, equality, and refuge for the oppressed, remembering that our Lord
Himself once took refuge from persecution within its gracious and welcoming borders.

*Ends*

Resources

Non-exclusive
list of recent attacks against the Coptic community in Egypt:(Sources include the Coptic Church, AP, Coptic
Solidarity, International Christian Concern, and World Watch Monitor)

Elderly woman, Souad Thabet, paraded
naked through the streets by a mob in Menia, Egypt, a number of Christian homes
looted and destroyed. No charges to-date. May 2016

Christian home in Baidaa village torched by
a mob of 5000 men and women, after unsubstantiated rumours claimed that it
would become a church. June 2016